Rabbit Hill (Puffin Newberry Library)

Staff Pick

Written in 1944, this is one of the classics of children's literature. The animals of Rabbit Hill and the folks who live in the big house learn about coexisting, giving us all something to think about in terms of how we interact with the world around us. Rabbit Hill is a very sweet environmental allegory that is just as revolutionary now as it was in 1944. Recommended by Mary Z., Powells.com

Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

New folks are coming to live in the Big House. The animals of Rabbit Hill wonder if they will plant a garden and thus be good providers.

About the Author

Robert Lawson (1892-1957) received his art training at the New York School of Fine and Applied Arts. His favorite medium, pen and ink, is used expressively and with detail in his black and white illustrations in

What Our Readers Are Saying

Average customer rating based on 1 comment:

Home School Book Review, January 21, 2013 (view all comments by Home School Book Review)
A lot of animals live on Rabbit Hill in rural Connecticut outside of Danbury. They include Father and Mother Rabbit, their son little Georgie, Porkey the Woodchuck, the Gray Fox, the Gray Squirrel, Willie Fieldmouse, Mole, Phewie the Skunk, the Red Buck, and many others. Over three years ago, good Folks lived in the house, the lawns were thick, the fields were covered with clover, and the gardens were full of vegetables. Then evil days fell on the Hill when the good Folks moved away and their successors were mean, shiftless, and inconsiderate. Last autumn, even they left, and the house had stood empty since then.

However, now little Georgie comes running with some good news. “New Folks Coming!” He even makes up a song about it to sing while going up Danbury way to fetch Uncle Analdas. But will the New Folks be planting people who will provide a good garden that will bring better times to the Hill, or will they have guns and traps and poisons with vicious dogs and nasty cats? And when little Georgie gets hit on the Black Road by a car, what will the New Folks do? This delightful story for younger readers won the Newbery Medal in 1945. Uncle Analdas uses some “countrified” euphemisms such as “tarnation,” “gumdinged,” and especially “dingblasted.” Also there are a few occurrences of pipe smoking and one reference to elderflower wine.

I can understand how some modern kids whose highest notion of “good reading” is junk like Harry Potter or A Series of Unfortunate Events would find Rabbit Hill “boring.” However, for those who like to savor truly fine children’s literature with charming characterizations and lovely illustrations, it is a heart-warming and beautiful tale that deserved the Newbery Award. Of course, that was back in the days before the leftists took over the American Library Association. One person noted that the book, apparently based upon the actual hill on which author Robert Lawson lived, is “a powerful reminder that we are stewards of God's creation,” and another pointed out the clear message about being kind to our fellow creatures.

Written in 1944, this is one of the classics of children's literature. The animals of Rabbit Hill and the folks who live in the big house learn about coexisting, giving us all something to think about in terms of how we interact with the world around us. Rabbit Hill is a very sweet environmental allegory that is just as revolutionary now as it was in 1944.

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